.Wis 






-.'M 




Class _ E, ^^ 'I- 
Book JWil_ 




SKETCH OF 

JACKSOIV."^^ 



[The following character of Geii. Jackson, «'ith 
a narration of tlie priiu-ipni incidents of liis life, 
and particularly of liis military transactions, (which 
have of late heen the theme of much misrepresen- 
tation in the newspapers,) will he read with inte- 
rest by every American who wishes to arrive at 
the truth. It is the prodtictinnof Robfrt Walsh, 
Jnn. Escj. of Philadelphia, whose reputation stands 
pledijed for the accuracy of his staiemenis ; And 
for intelligence and literaiy attainments, and for 
the impartiality and correctness of his narration, 
there can be no doubt. It is the more entitled to 
consideration, as it was written as matter of histo- 
ry and not from party considerations, and comes 
from a political o|)ponent of Gen. JacUson, who, 
it could not be expected, would be partial to him in 
the least. It was first published at Philadelphia, 
in 1824.] 

No name recorded in the military annals of 
the United States, possesses so mutli eclat as 
that of Andrew .Jackson ; one only except- 
ed — that of the transcendant Washington. — 
The story of Jackson's life is less known than 
we might suppose it to be, considering the cir- 
cumstance just mentioned, atid the real magni- 
tude and variety of his public services. The 
hero of New-Orleans, naturally and properly 
attracts first the attention of the biographer. — 
An additional interest results to his ex()loit3 
and character, tVoin the important relation in 
which lie now stands to the American people, 
as a candidate for the splendid othce or iMclr 
Chief M.igistratP. Down to the termination 
of the siege of New- Orleans, the most brill- 
i.-uit era of his career, we have abundant in,i- 
teriafs for a correct notice of him, in a volume 
entitled, the Life of Andrew Jackson, and pub- 
lished in 1817, by an officer, who enjoyed the 
advantage of being near his person during his 
campaigns. Antlieniic documents extant in 
newspapers and journals, enable us to continue 
the outline to the present time ; and with re- 
gard to personal rpialities and manners, he is 
so well and widely known in social circles, 
that a faithful representation is almost inevita- 
ble. 

An'drkw Jackson is of Irish parentage. — 
His fither and mother emigrated toSouth-Car- 
olitia, in 1770, with two sons, both young, 
and purchased a tract of land, on which they 
settled, in what was then called the Waxaw 
settlement, about forty-five miles above Cam- 
den. Here was bom, on the 15th March, in 
the year 1777, Andrew the subject of the pre- 
sent sketch. His father died soon after, leav- 
ing the three children to be provided for by 
the mother, a woman who would seem to have 
possessed excellent feelings and considerable 
strength of mind. The scantiness of their 
patrimony allowed only one of them lo be 
iiberally educated ; and this was Andrew, 
whom she destined for sacred ministry. He 
was sent to a flourishing academy in the set- 
tlement, where he rem.iined, occupied with 
the dead languages, until tho revolutionary 



war brought an enemy into his neighborhoodj 
whose approach left no alternative but the 
choice of the British or American banners.— 
The intrepid and ardent boy, encouraged by 
liis patriotic mother, hastened, at the age o£ 
fourteen, in company with one of his brothers, 
to the American camp, and enlisted in the ser- 
vice of his country. The eldest of the three, 
had already lost his life in the same eervice, 
at the battle of Htono. 

After retiring into North Carolina, before 
the British army, with their corps, they return- 
ed to Waxaw settlement, and found themselves 
suddenly engaged with a superior British force, 
who surprised a gallant band of forty patriots, 
to which they belonged, routed it and took e- 
leven prisoners. Andrew Jackson and his 
brother escaped from the field, after fighting 
bravely ; but, having entered a bouse, next 
day. in order to procure food, they fell into 
the hands of a corps of British dragoons and 
tories, that were marauding together. An-* 
drew, when under guard, was ordered by a 
British officer, in a haughty manner, to clean 
bis boots ; the youib peremptorily refused to 
do so, claiming with firmness, the treatment 
due to a'^nsoneV of war. The otfioer aimed 
a blow at bis head with a sabre, which would 
have proved fatal, had he not parried it with 
his left hand, uti wliicli he received a severs 
wound. His brother, at the same time, and 
for a similar, offence, received' a gash on the 
head, which afterwards occasioned his death. 
Thus, did his only relatives, two of this esti- 
mable family, perish in the spring of life, mar- 
tyrs to their patriotic and courageous spirit. — 
Andrew and his companions were consigned 
to jail, in separate apartments, and treated 
with the utmost harshness ; until, through the 
exertions of their fond mother, they were ex- 
changed, a few days after the battle. This 
worthy woman, worn down by grief, and the 
fatigues she had undergone in seeking clothes 
and other comforts for all the prisoners who 
had been taken from her neighborhood, expi- 
red in the course of the following month, in tho 
vicinity of Charleston. At the period of this 
melancholy loss, Andrew was languishing un- 
der sickness, the consequence of his sufferings 
in prison, and his exposure to inclement weath- 
er on his return home. He returned to hia 
classical studies, as a means of future subsis- 
tence, with increased industry ; and, at the ago 
of eighteen, in the winter of 1784, repaired to 
Salisbury, in North Carolina, to a lawyer's of- 
fice, in which he prepared himself for the bar. 
In the winter of 1780, he obtained a license to 
practice, but finding this theatre unfavorable 
for advancement, he emigrated to Nashville, 
in 1788, and there fixed his residence. Suc- 
cess attended his industry and talents ; he ac- 
quired a lucrative business in the courts, and 
ere long was appointed attorney-general for 



!iie district ; in vvTiitli capacity he cohtinubd 
to act for several years. 

Tennessee being at that time (1788) expo- 
sed, even in the heart of the settlements, to 
the incursions of tfie Indians, he became, iiise 
all around him, a soldier, and one whose ac- 
tivity and resolution soon made him as conspi- 
cuous as he was useful. The progress which 
he made in public estimation, by his abilities 
and services, is marked by his election, in 
1796, to the Convention assembled to frame a 
constitution for the slate. In tliis body he ac- 
quired additional distinction, which placed hirn, 
the same year, in Congress, in the House of 
Representatives, and the following year, in ths 
Senate of the United States. He acted inva- 
riably with the republican party in the Nation- 
al Legislature, but grew tired of an unavailing 
struggle in a small minority, and of a scene of 
discussion and intrigue for which he did not 
deem himself as well fitted as the successor, 
for whose sake, no less thah for his own gra- 
tification, he resigned his post in 1799. We 
have heard some gentletnen who were mem- 
befs of Congress during the time he remained 
ill it, remark that he was generally esteemed 
for the soundness of his understanding, and 
the moderation of his demeanor. Though 
steadfast and earnest as a party politician, he 
inanifusled nerithei violence or illiberality. — 
While a Senator, be was chosen by the field 
cfBcers of the Tenncsee militia, without con- 
sultation with him, major-general of their di- 
vision, and so remained until 1814, when iie 
took the same rank in the service of the Uni- 
ted States. On his resignation as a Senator, 
ho was appointed one of the Judges of the 
Suprame Court of Tennessee. He .T(>popt»H 
liiis appointment with reluctance, and with- 
drew from the bench assoOn as possible, w-ith 
the determination to spend the rest of his life 
in tranquility and seclusion, on a beautiful 
farm belonging to him, and lying on the Cum- 
berland river about ten miles from Nashville. 
In this retreat he passed several years, happy 
in the indulgence of his fondness for rural oc- 
cupations, and in the society of an afrectitm- 
ate wife and a number of honest friends. His 
quiet felicity was, however, broken up by the 
occurrence of the war with Great Britain. It 
roused his martial and patriotic temper ; and 
when the acts of Congress (of the Gth of Feb- 
ruary, and July, 1812,)w}iich authorize the 
President to accept the services of J30,U0() vol- 
unteers, were promulgated, Jackson publish- 
ed an energetic address to the militia of his 
division, drew 2,500 of them to his standard, 
and tendered them without delay to the fede- 
ral government. In November, he received 
orders to descend the Mississippi, for the de- 
f*;nce of tlie lower country, which was then 
thouglit to be in danger. In January, in a ve- 
ry inclement season, he conducted his troops 
as far as Natchez, where ho waa instructed to 
remain until otherwise directed. Here he em- 
ployed himself indefaligably, in training and 
preparing them for service. 

Uui, the danger which was meant to be re- 
pelled, having ceased to exist, in the opinion 
of t!ie Secretary of War, he received iiistruc- 
tioijs, from the latter, to dismiss at once, from 



service, those under iiis command. Tiie nurti- 
ber of sick in his camp was great, and they ,' 
were destitute of the means of defraying the*' " 
expenses of their return liome : The rest of 
his troops from the same dearth of resources, 
mu.st have enlisted in the regular army, under 
General Wilkinson. Jackson felt himself res- 
pon.sible for the restoration of them to their 
families and friends, and therefore reswlved to 
disobey the orders of the department of WTir, 
whose head could not be acquainted with tlie 
circumstances of the case. He retained as 
much of the public property in his possession, 
as was necessary to his purpose of marching 
them back. Wilkinson remonstrated and ad- 
monished in vain. Jackson rejilied that he 
would bear all the responsibility — he refused 
to allow Wilkinson's officers, when commis- 
sioned, to recruit from his array ; seized upon 
the wagons required for the transportation of 
his sick, and set out with the whole of his 
force. He gave up his own horses to the in- 
firm, and shared in all thfe hardships of the 
soldiers in a long and arduous march. It was 
at a time of the year when the roads and the 
swamps, to be troddtn, were in the worst con- 
dition. His example silenced all complaint, 
and endeared him the more to his companions. 
On his arrival at Nashville, he communicated 
to the President of the United States what he 
had done, and the reasons by which he had 
been guided. His conduct was approved of 
at Washington, and the expenses, which he 
had incurred, directed to be paid. We have 
mentioned this affair particularly, because it is 
the most remarkable among the first instances 
in his history, of that lofty independence in 
jiiflgnipnt arnd .iction, and that disdain of cnti- 
sequences in the discharge of a paramount du- 
ty, wiiich have since signalised his career boilt 
military and civil. 

Wo have now reached what may be called 
the second principal era of his lite. 

The British and the celebrated Tteiimsck 
had stirred up the Creek nation of Indians, 
parties of whom made irruptions into the state 
of Tennessee, committing the most barbarous 
outrages upon defenceless and insulated fami- 
lies. Having obtained a supply of ammuni- 
tion from the Spaniards, at I'ensacola, a band 
of six or seven hundred warriors assaulted 
FoTt Mimms, situated in the Tensaw settle- 
ment, in the Mississippi Territory, succeeded 
in carrying it, and buicheiing nearly all its in- 
mates, three hundred persona, including wo- 
men and children. Only seventeen vi' :hc 
whole numben escaped to spread intelligence 
of the dreadful catastrophe. I'he news pro- 
duced the strongest sensation in Tennessee ; 
and all eyes were, at once, turned to Jackson 
as the leader of the force which mutt be sent 
forth to overtake and punish the miscreants. 
It was resolved by the legislature to call into 
service thirty-five hundred of the militia, to 
bo marched into the lieart of the Creek na- 
tion, conformably to the advice of Jackson, who 
readily undertook the chief command of the 
expedition. He issued an eloquent and ^ur- 
Tous address to the troops, on the day of the 
rendezvous, in which he told them, among oth- 
er things—" wc must and will be victorious— 



^•2, 



h_ 6 z -. 



wc must conquer as men wiio owe notliing to 
chance; and who, in the midst of victory, 
can still be mindful of wliat is due lo humani- 
ty." On the 7th October, 1313, he reached 
«he encampment, althou<,Mi his health was far 
from bemg restored. It would require too 
much space to follow him in all the movements 
of a campaign, in which he appeals as a most 
skiKul commander, vigilant disciplinarian, and 
dauntless soldier. 

The first battle which he fought, in person, 
on this occasion, was that of Talladega, a fort 
o» the friendly Cherokee Indians, distant a- 
bout thirty miles below fort Strother, on the 
north bank of the river Coosa. The Creeks 
were posted within a quarter of a mile of Fort 
Talladega, in coiwiiderable force. At7 o'clock 
in the morning, Jackson's columns were dis- 
played in order of battle. At about eight, liis 
advance having arrived within eighty yards of 
the enemy, received a heavy fire, which they 
instantly returned.and the engagement became 
general. In fifteen minutes the Creeks were 
seen flying in every direction, and were pur- 
sued until they reached the mountains, at the 
distance ofthree miles. Their number amount- 
ed to one thousand and eighty, of whem two 
hundred and ninety-nine were left dead on the 
ground. Their whole loss, in the engagement 
and retreat, as since stated by themselves, was 
not less than six hundred. On the side of the 
Americans, fifteen were killed and eighty 
wounded ; and several of the latter soon died. 
Ihe fort was full of friendly Indians who had 
been beseiged for several days, and would bare 
been all massacred, but for ihe arrival and vic- 
tory of General Jackson. Want of provisions 
compelled him to hasten bark, afier collecting 
Jus dead and wounded, to Fort Strother. He 
particularly lamented the necessity of this step, 
as it gave the enemy lime to recover from their 
consternation and recruit their strength. 

At Fort Slrolher, no stores were found for 
tlie famished army on their return, owing to 
l!ie delinquency of the contractors. Jaclison 
distributed all his own supplies to tlie suffer- 
ing troops— tripes constituted his sole food for 
several days. Scarcity engendered discon- 
tent and revolt in the camp. The officers and 
soldiers of the militia determined to abandon 
the service. On the morning when tJiey were 
tocarrytheir intention into fctfect, Gen. Jackson 
drew up the volunteer companies in front of 
Ihem, with a mandate to prevent their pio- 
giess— they had not courage to advance.— 
They returned to their quarters, but, on the 
next day, the very volunteers who had been 
6o employed, mutinied in their turn and de- 
signed to move off in a body. Their surprise 
was not slight, when on attempting this, they 
found the same men whom they had intercept' 
ed the day before, occupying the same posi. 
lion which they had done, for a similar pur- 
pose. The militia were glad to retaliate, and 
the result was the same. Jackson was obli<r- 
cd, however, to withdraw with the troops from 
Fort Strother, towards Fort Deposit, upon the 
condition that if they met with supplies, which 
were expected, they would return and prose- 
cute the campaign. They had not preceded 
more than ten or twelve miles before they met 



one iiundred and fifty beeves ; but iheirTaces 
being once turned homewards, they resisted 
his order to march back to the encampment. 
Ihe scene which ensued is characteristic as lo 
his firmness and decision. A whole brigade 
had put itself in an attitude of moving off for- 
cibly Jackson was still without the use of 
hi8 left arm ; seizing a musket, and resting it 
with Jus right on the neck of his horse, he 
threw himself in front of the column and 
threatened to shoot the first man who should 
attempt to advance. Major Reid his aid-de. 
camp, and General Coffee placed themflelves 
by his side. For several minutes the column 
preserved a menacing altitude, yet hesitated to 
proceed. In the mean time, those who re- 
mained faithful to their duty, amounting lo a- 
bout two companies, were collected, and form- 
ed at a short distance in advance of the troops, 
with positive directions to imitate the example 
of the General, if the mutineers persisted.— 
These, when no individual appeared bold e- 
noiigh to press onward, at length wavered, 
and then soon turned quietly round and agreed 
to submit. It was a critical instant ; but for 
the firmness of Jackson, the campaign would 
have been broken up, and there was no like- 
lihood of its being resumed. 

A third ron_sidera.We mutiny which happen- 
ed not long after, was suppressed by persona", 
efforts of the same kind. The appeals which, 
he made to his troops at these periods, are cZ- 
ezat(d and glowing compositions. The gov- 
ernor of Tennessee transmitted to him advice 
to desist from further prosecution of the cam- 
paign, on account of his manifold embarrass- 
ments and inadequate means. Jackson repli- 
ed to him, repelling his suggestion, and urging 
him to lend assistance to sustain the honor of 
Tenne8ee,and protect the frontiers from thou- 
sands of exasperated savages. This wise and 
lirgeni remonstrance finally procured for him 
reinforcements ; or rather, substitutes for the 
rompaniet", wliich he deemed it advisable to. 
dismiss in consequence of their disaffection. 

Once more, in the middle of January, 1814, 
lie was on iiis march, bending his course to a' 
part of the Tallapoosa river, near tlie mouth of 
a creek called Emuckfaw. On the Slst, he 
discovered that he was in the neighborhood of 
the enemy. About midnight Lis spies came 
in and reported that they had discovered o 
large encampment of Indians, at about three 
miles distance, who, from their whoopi:ig and 
dancing, were, no doubt, apprised of his ar- 
rival upon the erainences of Emuckfaw. At 
the dawn of day the alarm guns of the senti- 
nels, and the shrieks end savage yells of the 
enemy, announced an assault. The action 
raged for an lialf bout, when the Indians were 
put to the route. General Coffee, with four 
hundred men, was detached to destroy the e- 
nemy's encampment. He found it too strong 
to be aa8a,iled with that force, and had scarce- 
ly returned when the savages renewed their at- 
tack with increased numbers and the greatest 
impetuosity. The whole day was spent in se- 
vere fighting, attended by the destruction of a 
multitude of the assailants. They were qui- 
et during the night ; but Jackson perceivinir 
that his proviiions vr»t9 growing acarce, and 



4 

that his wounded required immediate care, 
determined on the next day to retrace his steps. 
The retreat began at ten o'clock, and was con- 
tinued, without interruption, until night, when 
the army was encamped a quarter of a mile 
on the south side of Enotichapco creek, in 
the direction of the ford by which they had 
already passed. The next day, after the front 
cuard and part of the columns had crossed, 
the enemy, who had been in pursuit, rushed 
from coverts upon the rear, and threw the 
guard into confusion. Jackson was just pass- 
ing the stream when the firing and yelling 
commenced. He repaired instantaneously to 
the place of action, formed the columns anew, 
and put them in motion in the midst of show- 
ers of balls. The savages, being warmly pres- 
sed in turn, broke and fled, and, in a chase of 
two miles, were entirely dispersed. At one 
moment, the destruction of the whole Tennes- 
see band appeared almost inevitable. 

The total loss on the American side, in the 
several engagements which we have just men- 
tioned, was only twenty killed and seventy-five 
wounded. The lifeless bodies of one hundred 
and ninetv-nine of the enemy's warriors were 
found : the number of their wounded could 
not be conjectured. On the night of the2Gth, 
Jackson encamped within three miles of Fort 
Strother ; having accomplished the several ob- 
jects of this perilous expedition — which were, 
a diversion in favor of Gen. Floyd, who was 
advancing with the army from Georgia ; the 
prevention of a meditated attack upon Fort 
Armstrong by the savage bands, a considera- 
ble part of whom he either destroyed or dis- 
persed ; and the counterariion of discontent 
in his ranks, for which activity and battle were 
the best remedies. 

In February, he discharged the volunteers 
and his artillery company, receiving in their 
etead fresh militia drafted for the occasion. — 
One private of these he caused to be executed 
for mutiny before the end of the month — an 
example of severity which had the happiest 
effect in regard to general subordination. 

We need not follow out the details of this 
brilliant affair, so well known by the name of 
the battle of Tuhopeka, or Horse Shoe. The 
contest was obstinate and bloody. Jackson's 
troops finally scaled the ramparts of the Sava- 
ges, who, disdaining to surrender, leaped down 
the banks of the river, when they could no 
longer defend themselves from behind the tim- 
ber and brush. The carnage continued imtil 
night .separated the combatants. The general 
result was,the destruction of the bravest of ihe 
Indian warriors and the ruin of their cause. — 
Five hundred and fifty-seven of them were Icil 
dead on the Peninsula. A multitude perished 
in the river. Three hundred women and cliil- 
dren were taken prisoners, and treated with 
humanity, 'i'ho loss of the victors, including 
the friendly Iniiian.>4, was fifty-five killed, and 
one hundred and forty-six woiinrled : among 
the former was some gallant officers. 

Having thus struck a decisive blow, Jackson 
returned with his wounded to Fort Williams. 
On the Ud of April, he published an address to 
his army, in which ho complimented their 
courage and conduct, but told them, thst more 



remained to Lo done. Understanding that the 
enemy was yet strong at Hoi thlcvvalee, a town 
situated not far from the Hickory ground, or 
that part of the Creek country lying in the 
forks near the junction of the Coosa and Tal- 
lapoosa, he was anxious to resume operations 
as soon as possible, and unite with the North 
Carolina and Georgia troops, who were an- 
nounced to be at no great distance, somewhere 
south of the Tallapoosa. On the Dth of April, 
he was on his march, «itli ail his disposable 
force, but did not reach Ilorllilewalee until the 
l')ih, owing to heavy rains which had swollen 
the streams that were to be crossed. The de- 
lay atlbrded an opportunity lo the Savages to 
e.scape by fliirlit tiom their pursuer, who soon 
afterwards eSoclcd his junction with the Geor- 
gia detachment. At the Hickory ground, tlio 
principal chiefs of the hostile tribes sued for 
peace — those who rejected this measure, had 
sought refuge along t'hc coast and in Pensaco- 
la. Jackson prescribed tothose who were dis- 
posed to renew llieir friendly relations with 
the United States, that they should retire and 
occupy the country about Fort Williams and to 
the cast of the Coosa ; a condition which was 
readilv accepted, and which put it ontof their 
power to renew hostilities with advantage at 
any time. Strong parties of militia were sent 
out to range the country and receive the sub- 
mission of the natives. Much of the property 
plundered by thcni at Fort ftlimms and along 
the frontiers was brought in and delivered up. 
All resislanc-e being at an end, and there being 
no longer any necessity foi maintaining an ar- 
mv in the field, orders were issncd on the '21st 
of April, for llie Tennessee troops to be mar- 
ched homo and discharged. 

Such is the mere outline of the famous Creek 
war, in which Jackson, by the celerity of his 
rnoveinfcnts, the inflexibility of his will, and 
the confidence with which his genius and de- 
meanor iiis|)irRd his associates, accomjilishcd 
as much within a few months as could bo 
thought possible, consistently with the nature 
and number of bis army. 

The complete and final discomfiture of so 
formidable a foe as this confederacy of Indi- 
ans, drew the attention of the general govern- 
ment to the Tennessee conimunder, and pro- 
duced a speedy manifi'station of the respect 
entertained fi)r his services and character, in 
his appointment to brigadier and brevet Major 
(Jrncral in the regular army. A commission 
of Majord'uneral was forwarded to him inMay, 
1814. The government deemed it advisable 
to enter into a treaty with the vanrpiislied In- 
dians, for tlio jiurpuso chiefly, of restricting 
their limits so as to cut off their communica- 
tion with the Hritish and St)anish agents. — 
(General Jackson was deputed with Col. Haw- 
kins as commissioner to negotiate with the 
Creeks; and on the lOtli of July, he reached^ 
Alabama on this errand, and by the lOth of 
August, accomplished an agreement, under 
which the Indians boimd themselves to hold no 
communication with British or Spanish garri- 
sons, or foreign emissaries, and conceded to 
the United States the right of erecting milita- 
ry p'^sts in their country. The contraction 
and definition of their territorial limits were 



aUen.edwUhconsl..ab;edini.uU,^;Jacu/sp^ 

son peremptorily and S'^«^'^«^*^"''y;"'f ^^ "P ' " ' Britisl, vessels were n.oored wul.m the 
on what he deemed "e'^essary I^h t « f^t^r« ^^^ ^J'^';' ,^^^j ,3 ^o eommand tl>e prm- 

security and permanent beneht ot the United bay',"^;^;! s^^^^ 1^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ JacU.on req-.ired 

^'En, this transactK^n, h. .«ind wa^trucU ^;a^;:S^::;rh;^:?.^:'l^h^;,^n^^ 

with thenmportance of d^P^'"?;^^"/^^. tJi,e ^a Jisoned and hold by the Llnilc,-1 States, 

and refractory Savages, ot the aid a"d excite to b. a ^ ^.^^^.^^^ ^^ j,^^.^^ .ufbc.ent to 

,nent which were admm.siered to t em n "^ ' ^ ,,^^ „,„^,„,,l, ,Vom ihe British. On 

East Florida, and ho at once "/Sed o" I 'C P »'^;\,; , ^( ^,,, Governor toaccedc to these 

President the propriety of attackm<r and dt>j IZTj^cUson pushed his troops at once into 

Lntiin? PeZacola. llestud.ed P-^'-'- ^1 ,;'", ^,'',0; t c tosvn, having i'-lroitly taken n 

to obt.iu information ot the designs which the « ' «J^^ "^ j,^,^ f,„,„ Uial in which he was 

British might have formed against the south- ddlcrtnt a c Spanish batteries m 

ern parts of the union. Ha already anmpa- f.^P''^^'^;^ '" ^.^.^^ ' .h.rV^od and nu-tcrcd ; the 

ZaLaUacko.mrcOrlean. "-darcssed the -ts.^ ^^ ^^.^ ^,,,, po.i.ions behind 

of his own accord, complaints to the Gov en- ^ 'B' '^r^^ ,^^ ,Vom which they were 

or of I'ensacola, and summoned hi.^ to del y- ' « '"^^ , ^^ ,,,,,,1,^^ ., and. alter some 

er up the chiefs of the ''O^^''^ "'''^"^Vrn^r rn"''ee Governor and his advisers redu- 

were^iarbored in the -'--. '^^^ f,^, 7. ^ "o^lib.ni.sion. Fort Darancas was blown 

vpfused and recriminated, l lie American ui i.iu ,„,,•,,■ 1, 

iit; wilom Jackson dc^^atched to the Pensa^ ^^^^'^^^S,, entering the town, Jackson 

cola with his expostulations, '""P^'-l^d, «n "s "^^^ J-^ ,,„j ,.^^^,ned to Fort Monlgomc- 

return, that he saw there nearly two hand d «l'«J^« ^^^^^^^^j-,,! ,,5,1, Laving driven away the 

British officers and soldiers,and about five h. m- rV' >^ '-.;;^'^j ,1,^ ,,„st,le Creeks to fly to the 

dred Indians under the training of those olh- Biitish, toicea u _ ^ ;.>,„.„.«;„„ on 




ins adjutant g^.. , ,, 

ne^sec, to raise volunteers, and iiimseU re 

paired to Mobile lo put that region in a state 

of defence. .11, 

Towards the end of August, the noted colo 



declined the offer, and answered tur her, tha 
when assistance was in iact needed, he would 
aopiv to his friend Genrsal JnrUaon. 

Afier the General had sent ofl adelachment 



Towards the end ot Augusi, u.« ..».-..-"." „<-'"„,. ,|„.,,sand men in j>ursuit of ihe Ii^dian 

nel Nichols, with a small sq-adron of Bn is. ^^./^^^/j'"^; ;,",'^,7,,,„i.bled on the Appala- 

sJiips, arrived at Pensacola, and a the expmi ^'. f "" J, ^.^j^,, t^ j^slroy the depots of 

tion of a fortnight, made an attack ^^o^.tori ^ '^' ^;3 ^^j, ^^ J, ,he rout, and 

Bowycr, situated at the extremity of a nanow su p bes •^■^'-1 ^^-^^^^.^ „,^l ;^,„l,i,e and 

neck of land, about eighteen miles below the ^hen e h a ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ 

head of Wobde Bay and commanding ts en- ll'-; "' ' "^ X';^,,,,, ,,^ l.i. operations and ar- 



of Wobde Bay and commanding its en- ^"'; ''';";," l^p^rc bv his operations and ar- 

. Nichols was repulsed with the loss of ^;">P^;;^ ^'j, i^^^^^^^ L. to depart for 

hest ship, and two hundred and thirty ""f "7"^'^' ''\^,,,,' e l,e had foreseen the vital 

,nen killed and' wounded. Tins position had ^« ^/^^ '^;";';;7;,^,; .., ,,, ,,„e.v his presence 

been wholly neglected before Jackson s arr - ^'"S^^-^^.J^^^^;,^,; " Assoon as Genera! Win- 

val.who ,<erceivedat once its great im, or- \l^-rtTuuU..n ordered to join bin,. 



trance 
of his 
men k 



tance, and lost no time in strengthening it to 
the utmost. The British assailants retired to 
Pensacola, to refit and prei)are lo make a de- 
scent on some less guarded point. 

Jackson became more and more \iersuaded, 
that unless Pensacola should bo reduced, it 
would be in vain to think of dctendmg bis 
district. He was confirmed in the plan which 
lie had for some time revolved, of advancing 
acraiust the Spanish town and throwing a force 



Chester, who had been ordered to join )iim. 
reached the Alabamn, he lefl Mobile. Ou the 
firstof DecemI.er, be was in AcAO-Orlcans, 
and there established his head quarters. Gen- , 
eral Cotfee and Colonel Hinds wee ordered , 
to march wiih their commands, and take a po- : 
^ition as convenient to New-Orleans asshould 
be compatible with the object of procuring 
forage for the horses of the dragoons. 

Louisi^ina was ill supplied with arms : its 



against the Spanish town and tlirowing a torce ^ 1"'"; ,u!a ion Fren. 1 and Spaniards,wero 

i.!to the Barancas, onk^so^onrespon^b^l^^ " 'j^ ^ " H e,' tlv' fond of the American gov- 



In the last week of October, General Cofiee 
arrived near Fort Stephens, with two thousand 
able bodied and well armed men trom 1 en- 
nessee Jackson hastened to ins camp, took 
up the line of march with the American army, 
consisting of Coffee's brigade, the regulars and 
some Indians ; in all about three thousand, and 
reached Pensacola on the (ith of November — 



not yet sutficiently fond ot the American gov- 
erntnent to fight very desperately 11. its de-, 
fence Ncw-Oileans was unprepared to with- 
stand an enemy, and contained but too many 
traitors and malcontents. Jackson was nearly 
disabled in body, by sickness and fatigue- he 
exoectcd a large and perfectly apiionued Brit- 
ish force— his only means of resistance were 



reached Pensacola on the bth ot November.- sn ' "' ^^ '' , .J^^^^ ,,i Uie Tennessee vol- 
The forts were garrisoned by the British nnd the lew regulars aooui , , 



tinlecrs, nnd mch troops as the state of Loui- 
siana might itself raise. He maintained, how- 
ever, a confident aspect, and a confident tone. 
lie summoned, at once, the Governor and the 
citizens 10 exert themgeives— he set them tlie 
example of unremitted activity and stern reso- 
lution. Volunteer companies were raised, bat- 
teries were repaired fir constructed and gun- 
boats stationed on the most eligible' points on 
the river. He roused the Legislature, who be- 
lore had done little or nolhing, to lend him 
fheir concurrence. His language to them was, 
' with energy and expedition, all is safe— de- 
lay further, and all is lost." Commodore Pat- 
terson, who commanded the naval forces, e.\- 
f-culed every order with alacrity and vigour.— 
Certain information was soon received that nn 
Knglish fleet was olf Cat and Ship Island,wilh- 
J n a short distance of the American lines — 
On the 14th of December, 4:5 I5iiiish boats, 
innuntmg as many cannon, with twelve hun- 
dred chosen men, well armed, attacked the 
American flotillaof five boats on Lake Borgne, 
and captured it, but not without a severe con- 
test and heavy loss of men. This disaster af- 
flicted, bni did not dismay General Jackson.— 
On the ]7lh he reviewed the militia, and bar- 
angucd them with a contagious ardourof patri- 
otism. 

Resist ancG on the lakes being at an end, the 
rnemy was expected to advance wiihout much 
fur/her delay. Lxpresses were sent otf in 
<iue6t of General Coffee, to whom his com- 
mander wrote. " Vou must not sleep until 
yon arriv-e withiu striking distance. Innume- 
rable defiles present themselves where your 
riflemen will be all important. On the night 
of the 19lh Dcecniber, Coffee encamped, with 
<>ight hundred nic«, within fifteen mile.s of New- 
Orleans ; having marched eigbly miles the 
last day. In four days. Colonel Hinds, with 
the Mi.«sissippi dragoons, was at his post ; ha- 
ving effected a Kiar<'h of two hundred and thir- 
ty miles in that period. 

Jackson was not long jn discovering the 
truth of what had been communicated to him 
ity the Governor of Louisiana, that " the coun- 
try was filled with British spies and stipendia- 
ries." He Fuggcst<».d to the Legislature I be 
If roprifcty and necessity of SMsptMiding tbo pri- 
vilege oi' habeas corpus. While thiU assem- 
l+ly were deliberating slowly upon their povv- 
<?r to adopt the measure, he proclaimed the ci- 
ty of New-Oilcans, and its environs to be un- 
<]er marljal law, and established a most rigid 
military police. 'J'he law crisis did not admit 
of any other sy.stem, consistently with the 
public safely ; and happy it was tiia! theconi- 
inandcr did not want cither sagacity or decis- 
ion. U'hen a judge of the United t^tates' court 
determined to try ihe fiuest-jon of supremacy 
between the civil and military power, ho ar- 
rested the judge and ordered him to leave the 
city. *' I must be brief, there is treason." On 
•die 21st Hecembor, General Carndl reached 
Ipencral t'offee's cncampmnnt four milcsabovo 
Ittie ciiy, from Nashville, with two thousand 
jrennossee yeomanry. 

f( On the 22d, the ikiii.-h were accidentally 
jiscovered emerging from tiie swamp nnd 
'-^ods about sevnn miles below tlie town. In 



c 



epite of all the precaution taken to guard the 
most dangerous avenues, treachery found out 
for the enemy a narrow ^&ss, Bayou Bienvenu, 
through which they reached the banks of the 
Mississippi. On the 23d, at one o'clock in the 
afternoon,positive informaiion of their landin'^ 
was brought to Jackson. He resolved to meet 
them thai night. Generals Cofleo and Carroll 
were ordered to join him, and arrived in two 
Iiours, with their forces. As he was marching- 
through the city, his ears were assailed by the 
screams of a multitude of females, who dread- 
ed the worst consequences from the approach 
of the enemy. " Say to them," exclaimed ho 
to a gentleman near him, " not to be alarmed, 
the enemy shall never reach the city." 

The number of the British was at first three 
thousand, and it was considerably increased 
during the nigiit. The onset was made by the 
Americans about dusk. The battle, complica- 
ted and fierce, continuad fir some time, until 
both parties were thrown into confusion, ow- 
ing to the darkness of the night and the nature 
of the ground. The enemy yielded the field 
for nearly a mile. The American general, 
finding that they were constantly receiving re- 
inforcements, resolved to draw off and renew 
tjie attack at dawn of day, after he had called 
for Gen. Carroll and his division, who had been 
left behind. Carroll soon arrived, but as the 
numbers of the enemy were discovered to be 
augmented to six thousand. Jackson deemed it 
expedient to fiirbear all ofiensive effort.--, until 
the troops daily expected from Kentucky 
should reach their destination. Accordingly, 
he fell back and formed his line behind a dee"p' 
ditch that ran at right angles fiom the river.— 
This position was recommended by two cir- 
cumstances : the swamp, which skirted the 
river at various distances, approached here 
within four hundred yards of it, and hence 
from the narrowness of the pass, it was more 
easily to be defended : there was, loo, a deep 
canal, and the dirt being thrown on the upper 
side,a{rendy constituted a tolerable breast work. 
Behind ijiisilifl American troops were fiirmed 
with a deterniin.'iiion to resist there to the last 
extremity. 'J'he portion of them who wore 
actually engaged in the battle on the 2;id,did 
not amount to two tliousnnd men. Their loss 
was twfinty-fourkillcd.one hundred and fifteen 
wounded, and seventy-four made prisoners: 
the killed, wounded aiid prisoners of the ene- 
my were not less than fliur hundred. This ac- 
tion for boldness of conception, and by the 
wisdom of iJae policy, and the importance of 
Ihe result, does infinite crftdit to the American 
leader. The British had believed that once 
landed, they should move forward to the easi- 
est of conquests over raw militia and untried 
regulars. Tiiey were arrested and disconcert- 
ed, and Jackson improved the interval of their 
hesitation and cauliouspreparation, to strength- 
en his works and organize the state militia who 
were arriving every day. 

The enemy were abundantly active on tlieir 
side, though at first ignorant of his situation 
and ilesigiis. They brought up in the direc- 
tion of ihcirwicanrpmcnt their artillery, bombs 
nnd ammunition. By means of a battery which 
they eroded ia the night of the 27ili, they dc- 



stroyed the American armed schr. Caroline, ly- 
ing under tlie opposite shore. Gathering har- 
dihood from tiiis circumstance, which, in fact, 
deprived Jackson of a material aid, they left 
their encampment and moved towards the A- 
merican lines. Their numbers had been in- 
creased and Sir E. Packenhain, their comman- 
der in chief, led them in person on the 2dth 
December to storm the works. Tlteir heavy 
artillery discharged showers of bombs, balls, 
and rockets. These it was thought would en- 
sure success ; and they were movin<T forward 
^vitli all ihs pride and pomp of war, when the 
American batteries opened and caused their 
advance to halt. The conflict continued in 
several quarters, until the assailants, being too 
roughly liandled, abandoned, for the lime, the 
genaral attack wliioh they had meditated. One 
iiundred and twenty of them were killed and 
wounded. The loss of the Americans did not 
e.xceed nine killad and eight or ten wounded. 

While Jackson and his comrades were thus 
bravely repelling the foe, a panic seized the 
Legislature at New-Orleans. Apprized that 
it vvKS secretly agitated to offer terms of capit- 
ulation, he directed the Governor to arrest the 
members and hold them subject to his further 
orders, the moment the project of surrendermg 
should be fully disclosed. The Governor at 
once placed an armed force at the door of the 
capitol, prevented the members from conve- 
ning, and thus stifled whatever schemes n»ight 
Ijave been proposed. Various and shrewd de- 
vices were practiced by Jackson to conceal 
from the enemy the comparative paui;ity of 
lus force, and the miserable dearth of arms itj 
his camp. From the general government no 
supply of arms and ordnance had been receiv- 
ed, except one boat load, brought down the 
Mississippi by Gen. Carroll. 

Skirnrishes alone, by advance parties, occur- 
red for several days after the attack of the 2dtii 
December. The British were encamped two 
miles below the .American army, on a perfect 
plain, and in full view. In the interval be- 
tween the period first mentioned and the 1st of 
January, they vvere busy in preparing for ano- 
ther assault on an enlarged scale. An impen- 
etrable fog prevailed during the night of the 
3lst, and until nine o'clock the following mor- 
ning : when that was dispelled, there stood 
disclosed to the Americans, several heavy bat- 
teries, at the distance of six iiundred yards, 
mounting 18 and '24 pnutid carronades. These 
Were inunediately opened by the British, and 
u tremendous discharge of artillery, accompa- 
nied with Congreve rockets, was Maintained 
until near noon. A vast number of balls were 
directed against the building in which Jackson 
was believed to be. It was battered into a 
heap of ruins, but the General, according to 
his custom, had repaired to tiie lines as soon 
\-i he heard the sound of the enemy's cannon. 
The roar of the American guns proved that 
there would be a vigorous defence ; and with 
such effect were tiiey managed, that the Brit- 
ish batteries were disabled, and the assailants 
compelled to retire, by three o'clock, despair- 
ing of a breach in the line, and astonished at 
the precision with which the " Yankees" threw 
their shot. An advance was made upon Gen. 



Coffee's brigade, in order to turn tjie left, but 
with no better success. To be prepared a- 
gainst all contingencies, Jackson had establisli- 
ed another line of defence about two miles ir» 
the rear, and where his unarmed troops (no 
inconsiderable number) were stationed as a 
show of strength. 

On the 4th of January, arrived the long ex- 
pected reinforcement from Kentucky, amount- 
ing to two thousand two hundred and fifty men, 
of whom about five hundred had muskets and 
the rest guns, from which little or no service 
could be anticipated. Netv-Orleans had been 
previously searched for weapons, and stripped 
of whatever were discovered. The Briii.-iii 
vvere at the same time reinlorccd in a much 
more satisfactory way for them. Now ap- 
proached the great and last struggle. Gen, 
Jackson, unmoved by appearances, anxiou.--ly 
desired it — he seldom slept— he was aUvays at 
his post, that there might be no relaxation of 
vigilance on any side. 

On the memorable 8th of January, the sig- 
nals, intended to produce concert in the ene- 
my's movements, were descried at dawn. — 
They were prepared to storm the line, and the 
charge was made with so aiucii celerity that 
the American soldiers at the outposts bactj- 
scarccly time to fly in. Showers of bombs and ■ 
balls were poured I'rom new batteries. Tho 
two British divisions commanded by Sir Ed- 
ward Packenham in person, pressed forward. 
A thick fog enabled them to approach within 
a short distance of the inlrenchments before 
they vvere discovered : but this circumstance 
insured llicm del'eat and destruction. The A- 
merican artillery and small arms, discharged 
in a continued soll<;y, mowed down their ranks 
and arrested their progress. The fatal aim of 
the western marksmen was never so terribly 
exemjilified. Sir Edward Packenham, seeiii'; 
that his troops wavered and receded, hastened 
to the front, but quickly fell, mortaity wound- 
ed, in the arms of his aid-decamp. Generate 
Gibbs and Keene vvere also dangerously hurl 
and borne from the field, which by this time 
was strewed with the dead and dying. The 
British coluji n, often broken aisd driven bads 
were repeatedly formed and ur^jed furivard a- 
new. Convinced at last that noihing could be 
accomplished, lliey abandoned the ci(n:est,and 
a general and disorderly retreat ensued. One 
American redoubt was carried by superii:r 
numbers, but quickly evacuated under ihe lire 
of the riflemen at the line, iju great was ilie 
carnage of the British, so perilous the disordur 
into which they were thrown, that had arms 
been possessed by that large portion of the A- 
merican militia who had remained inactive and 
useless lor the want of them, the whole Brit- 
ish force must have surrendered. But, under 
tho peculiar circumstances of the case, Jack- 
son was unable to attempt, wiiiiout extreme 
rashness, a pursuit of the van(juishcd. He 
adopted the safe alternative of continuing iu 
ills position. 

According to Gen. Lambert'.s official report 
of the affair of the 8th, the British loss, in the 
main attack on the left bank of the river, a- 
moutited to upwards of two thousand men, in 
killed, wou.nded, and prisoners. It may be es- 



t:mateJ al nearly tlircc tliousaiul, wliile tli.-.t of 
the Americans was but tliirlecn. The effect- 
ive force of tlie latter ai the line on ihe left 
bank, wu;- three thousand sev«n hundred — that 
■of the eiii-rny at least nine thousand. The 
whole force landed from the iiritish ships in 
Louisiana is believed to have been about four- 
teen inousand. Tho British Commander in 
Chief and Major-Geiieral Gibbs died of their 
vvounds, besides man; of the most valued and 
distin^'uiihed Briiish officers. On tiie yth, the 
enemy re<;;u«>.sted and obtained an armistice of 
some hours to bury tiieir .1. ad. 

After the action of the frUh, the American 
batteries were continually throwing balls, and 
bombs, into the British camp. Ilarrassed, dis- 
mayed and enfeebled, lliiii once povverfil army 
which Wis to arrive atiXew-Orleans bv a prim- 
rose patli, and hold in subjection all the lower 
region of (iic Mississippi, took a tinal and fur- 
tive leave in ilie night of the Idth of January, 
and embarked in iheir sliippin;; for the West- 
Indies. Thus ended the mighty invasion, in 
twenty-si.K days after the foreian'stundard had 
been exultingly plante.l on tiie bank of the 
Mississippi. Thus triumphed Gen Jackson, 
by a wonderful combination of boldness and 
prudence, ener^ry and adroitness, uesperute for- 
titude and aii-^iioiis patriotism. 

^Though the enemy had vvillidravvn from 
New-Orleans in the manner which has been 
stated, Jackson ruuld not ho sure that they 
would not return. Again^' this conlinnency 
he prepared himself by ca.iiions arrangements 
in the di-tr'i'butioii oi" Ins force and the con- 
fitriiction of nciv defences at assailable points, 
before he returned lo New-Orleans. In ihat 
city he was receivpd as a deliv.jror. Almost 
every mind was kindbd lo enthusiasm from 
the considcraiion of the ^^viis vvhicfi he had a- 
verted, as well as the vi-iorics which ho had 
gained. The mo-;t solemn ami lively demon- 
strations of public respect and gratitude suc- 
ceeded oacli other daily, until tiie period of his 
departure for Nashville soon after the annun- 
ciation of the peace con.:luded at Glient be- 
tween Great Britain and the United States.— 
Though honored and cherished by the larger 
part of the citizen.-, he was not, however, with- 
out o<-ca.<ion to di.-play the emirgy and deris- 
ion of his character in a w.iy that favored iha 
ends of jealousy and delracti'on. Aiionymou.s 
articles tMlculated to e.xciie mutiny amniigUio 
troops and afford the enemy datigrrous iii?elli- 
g.;nce, having appeared in one of the news- 
papers of New-Orleans, he caused the author 
of it to be revealed to him by the editor of iho 
paper. He found that the otVender was a mem- 
ber of the Legislature, hut this eirciimslanco 
did not prevent him from ordering his arre.'^t 
anddeieiiiion forlriai. Application was made 
to one of till' Judges fir a vviit of habeas cor- 
pus, and it was immediately issued. We have 
alie.idy menlioiied tlr,t Jackson arrested the 
Judge and sent him from tin; ciiv. We now 
advert again to this incident, in CmU'.r to relate 
tliB sequel. The General had not vet raised 
the edict of martial law, there being no cer- 
i.un mtelligeiice of peace or of the departure 
of the enemy fiom the coast. Within a few 
d.iyi the cessation of hostilities was (dlicially 



8 



aiiiiounced. The Judge was restored to big 
post and the exercise of his functions. With- 
out loss of time a rule of court was granted 
for General Jackson to appear and shew cause 
why an attachment for contempt should not is- 
sue, on the ground that he had refused to obey 
a writ and imprisoned the organ of the law. 
He did not hesitate to appearand submit a full 
and very able answer, justifjing his proceed- 
ings. After argument before the court, the 
rule was made absolute ; an attachment issu- 
ed out, and Jackson brought up to answer in- 
terrogatorie.'j. He declined answering- them : 
but asked for the sentence, which the Judge 
then proceeded to pass. It was a fine of one 
thousand dollars. The spectators who crowd- 
ed the hall betrayed the strongest indignation. 
As soon as he entered his carriage, it was sei- 
zed by the people, and drawn by them to the 
cotiee-house, amid the acclamations of a lar^e 
concourse When he arrived at bis quarters 
he put the amount of bis fine into the hands 
of his aid-de-camp, and caused it to be dis- 
charged without delay. He was scarcely be- 
forehand with the citizens, who, in a short 
time, raised the sum among themselves by con- 
tribution, and were anxious to be permitted 

to^ testify at once their gratitude and shame. 

What was thus collected was appropriated, 

at his request, to a charitable institution. 

He enjoyed the consciousness that the pow- 
ers, which the e.xigency of the times forced 
bim to assume, had been exercised exclu- 
sively for the public good, and that they had 
saved the country, "in \ii2\, the Corpora- 
tion of New-Orleans voted fiftij thousand dol- 
lars for erecting a marble statue apjiropriate 
to lus military services. 'l"he same body gave 
also one thousand dollars for a portrait of him 
painted bv Mr. Earlr. Thus the miserable fine 
may bo said to liave been oiditerated. 

On his return to Nashville, o journey ofei"ht 
hundred miles, he saw on every side marks of 
e.vultation and delight. It must be within 
the memory of most of nur readers, what was 
the scn-^ation produced throughout the Union 
by the tidings from New-Orleans, and what the 
popilar enthusiasm concerning the merits of 
"Old Hickory." 

For two years afterwards he remained on 
Iiis farm, chiefly occupied with rural labors — 
In this interval, the portion ol' the Seminoles 
who were driven into Florida, combining wii/i 
fugitive iiPijroes from 'he adjoining stales, and 
instigated by British adventurers, whose objects 
were blood and rapine, became formidable in 
niinibeis and hardihood, and began to execute 
schemes of robbery and vengeance against the 
Americans of the frontiers. It having been 
represented to the AuKMican government that 
murders had been commilled on our •defence- 
less citizens, Gen. Gaines, the acting command- 
er in the southern district, was ordered, in the 
suiii'ner of 1817, with a considerable force, to 
lake a station near the borders for their pro- 
tection. He was at first directed to keep 
within tlift territorial limits of the United 
t"late.i, and to abstain from every attempt to 
cross the Florida line ; but to demand of the 
Indians the perpetrators of the horrid crimes 
thus coiiiniitted, without involving the in- 



9 

rnrpnt and without a seiieral rupture with the deluded savages. Such murders 
h- vino'been ascertained to have heeu conuiiitteci, attended with aggrayatuig or- 
.■mn.UMces of rapine and cruelty, Gen. Gaines, in conformity with his orders, made 
the demand The savages through the deceptive representations of foreign incen- 
d ar ie^ were le.l to bdieve that the strength of the United Stales was not suftic.ent 
to suhdile them : or, if tlieir own forces were incompetent to sustain the conflict, 

hev wo dd eceive assistance from the British. The promises made by authorised 
ZlnsLve founded upon a pretence, that the United States had bound themseh'es 

V the t^aty of Ghent, to restore the lands which the Indians had ceded at Fort 
Jackson previously to that treaty and that the British government would enforce 
Us observance. Under this influence they notonly refused to deliver the murderers, 
butrenelted their massacres whenever opportunity offered ; and, to evade the arm 
of ius ce took refu,'e across the line, in Florida. In this state of affairs in Nov. 
^817 Lieut Scott, of the United States army, under Gen Gaines, with 47 persons, 
inenvvomen, and cliildren, in a boat, on the Appalachicola river, about a mile be- 

ow tlTei nc ion of the Flint and Cohatahoochie, was surprised by an ambuscade of 
ii dia r ed upon, and the whole detachment killed and taken by the Indians, ex- 
ce . X men who escaped by flight. Those who were taken alive, were wantonly 
ni de^ed I V the ferocious savages, who seized the little children and dashed out 

he h," u -a.ainst the side of the boat, and butchered all the helpless fe'^ales ex- 
cent one who was afterwards retaken. Gen. Gaines was not yet authorised to 
cross i no Florida, to enforce a compliance with his demand for the delivery o mur- 
de°e's while the Indians were collecting in large numbers upon the l.ne,which they 
seen Ho I link a perfect safeguard, and from which they continued their predato- 
ry e'cm^o. A letter from die Secretary of War, of the 9th Dec. 1817 authori- 
zed Gn. Gaines, in case this state of things should continue, and it should becot^e 
impossible by anv other means to prevent their depredations, to exercise a sound 
s ^et on as to cfossiu^ the Florida Hue, in order to break up their e^?tabhshments ; 
a K on the IGth of the same mouth, the Secretary of War, by letter directed to Gen 
Gaines fully authorized him to cross the line, ami attack the Indiatis within the 
Spanish teriitory, siiould they still refuse to make reparation for depredations al- 

"^^InLlHgencrbVing received by the war department of the tnassacrc of Lieuten- 
ant Scot? and his companions, General Jackson was directed, by letter of the 26th 
December, 1817, to repair to Fort Scott, and take command of the forces in that 
nuarter • with authority, in case he should deem it necessary, to call upon the exec- 
ulives of the adjacent states for ad.litional force. He was referred to the previous 
orders -iven to Gen. Gaines, and directed to concentrate his forces, and adopt tlie 
measure* necessary to terminate a conflict which had been avoided from cotiside- 
rarions of humanity, but which had now become indispensable, from the settled hos- 
tility of the savage enemy." In January following, the Secretary of VVar, in a let- 
ter io Gen Gaines, said, " The honor of the United States requires, that the war 
^vith the Seminoles should be terminated speedily, and with exemplary pumshriient 
for hostilities so unprovoked." Under these orders, and in this critical state ot at- 
fairs General Jackson, having first collected Tennessee volunteers, with that zeal 
and i)rom[)tness which have ever marked his career, repaired to the post assigned, 
and assumed the command. The necessity of crossing the line into I loritla was 
no lon-er a subject of doubt. A large force of Indians and Negroes had made that 
territory their refuge, and tl;e Spanish authority was either too weak or too inditter- 
ent to restrain them ; and to comply with orders given him from the department ot 
war, he penetrated immediately into the Seminole towns, driving the eneiny betore 
him, and reduced them to ashes. In the council house of the king ot ^'.f J"^*^^f""" 
kiaiis, more than 5U fresh scalps, and in an adjacent house, upwards ot dUU scalps, 
of all iK-es and sexes, were found; and in the centre of the public square a red pole 
was erected, crowned with scalps, known by the hair to have belonged to the com- 
panions of Lieutenant Scott. . ^ 
To inflict merited punishment upon these barbarians, and to prevent a repetion ot 
these massacres, by bringing the war to a speedy and successful termination, Jack- 
son pursued his march to St. Marks : there he found, conformably to previous intor - 
niation, that the Indians and Negroes had demanded the surrender ot the post to 
them ; and that the Spanish garrison, according to the commandants own acknowl- 
edgment, was too weak to support it. He ascertained also that the enemy had beea 
supplied with the means of carrying on the war, from the commandant ot the post 
that foreign incendiaries, instigating the savages, had free communication witli tne 



1) 

furl; coiincilri of war, wore penriittctl l)y ilie cniuaiaiular.t to bu IjoM i)y tlie chi<'rs 
:iih1 warriors witli'm liis own (juai-Kirs ; tliy f^jiiuiisli stori; lioiises were apprDpriiitL-d 
to linj ti.'^e ol' i!iu hostile imriy, luul actinilly liiitMl wilii ^xooil.s l)eioiigiii>r tu tliurn, uixl 
I'lDjieity, kuov. II lo lia\e been pbiuilereil tVcmi ^iiiiM'ican citizens, was [)iircba.sc(l 
:>orn theiij by tlio cofiKiriijilant, w liilu be pro(e:?»eii I'l ieiidsiiip lo tin; ('niieil Slates, 
(rjliera! Ja-;ksuii, therelbro, !iad no be?ita!ion to deiiian!! of ibe roniuiandant ul'l^^t. 
Marks, ib'e. dinreiuier fit" tbat post, tiiat it tni;j:lit Ije jianirfonei! with :in Anierii-an 
jbi'ce, and, wlicii tbe Spani:sb olilcer liesiiated lo deliver it, be ciilercd the Ibrt b\' 
i'oree, tli(n!.!,'b williont bloodr-lied, the eiit^my bavinj; fled, and tlie ganison l)einii- too 
^ve;lk to ii;R';e f»])|)o.sition. Convinced of tbe necessity of rapid movements, in re- • 
;..'iird to tlie iiltimau'. siicct.'.So of tlie expedition, bti immediately niarebed !iis Ibrccs lr> 
f;iiwany ; seized upon tbe stores of lijo enemy and burnt llieir villages. 

A viiiiety of circumstances convinced (leu. Jaclcson ibut tbe savages Inn! com- 
TutMiceJ war, and persisted iu their barbarities, inidei' liie influence <if some for- 
<'ir;ii incendiaries, tnore criminal than the uuciviii/ed natives. Jiltxandir ArhvUtnot, 
w'iio avowed Jnmself a Erilish suliject and resiiled anu)iJg the savages as an Indian 
irader, was taUen at St. Marks, to which jdace lie bad witlulrawn as danger ap- 
]iroacbed, and v.'as living as an inmate in tlie (aniily of the commandant. It ap- 
jioaring tliat he bad been a zealous advocate for tlie [iretended rights of the sava- 
;;e?, and in this respect the sncc(;ssor of the notorious Colonel Nichols, of the Jirii- 
i-h ("olonial Marines ; that he bad repeatedly written in their behalf to the Spaii- 
i.>h Governor of 'it. Augustine, tl.e Governor of iiaiianias, the British JMinisier i;i 
J lie United States, and to Col. Niclio!.^, endeavoring to jirocure aid IVom both tiiosu 
Governors against tbe United States ; that be bad repeatedly advised the Indians 
'vjt to conqdy with the treaty of Fort Jackson, assuring them that the lands cedeil 
lo the United" States [)y them in 1314, were to be restored by virtue of liie treaty of 
••ieacc with Great i'ritnin. Gen. Jackson ordereil biin to lie tried by a Court of Eii- 
qnirv, consisting of ].") respectable obiccrs, with Major Gen. Gaines, as President. 
Tpuli satisfactory testimony, be was convicted of inciting and stirring up the hos- 
tile Creeks to war against the UuIKmI Stales and her citizens ; anci ol" aiiling, abel- 
•ing, and comforting tlie enemy, supplying them with the means of war ; and by the 
fJourt was sentenced to hchiing. llohcrL C. .hnbristcr, late a l.ieutenaiit in the iirit-_ 
]Ai r.Iarine corps, and with tlie iiostile Indians and fugitive negroes ihe fiiccessor of 
"^Voodliinc, of notorious ineni(u-y, was taken near ibe month of Suwaney river.— 
U bein"- well known that he bad been a leader and commander of the hostile Indi- 
;ins and lb"^itive slaves. Gen. Jacks(jn ordered him to be tried by the same Court 
i'larlial. Ul>on abuiidaiil evidence be also was convicted of having aided and com- 
lorteu the encmv, supidyilig them with the means of war by giving them intelli • 
• •eiice of the movements and operations of the army of the United States, and by 
.^endii)"- the Indians and negroes to meet and light against them ; and uj>on bis own 
<oi. Cession, as well as the clearest jiroof of bis having led and commanded the low- 
ir Creeks in carrying <)" the war against the United ^States, he was by the Court 
i-.entem'ed to he shot. One of the members however requesting a reconsideration oi 
'ihe sentenci^ it was agreed to ; and on a revision the Court sentenced him to re- 
. eiv'e .")() stripes on bis Ijare back, and be cmifmetl with a ball ami chain to bard la- 
1. or for r2 calendar months. (Jen. .lackson ap))roved ihe sentence in tbe case of Ar- 
burhnot : and, in liie case of Ambrister, be disappro'-ed the reconsideration and 
coiibrme.l tin: liisl sentence. 'Miev were bulb executed acconlingly. 

Uavin-r thus far elieeted bis objects. Gen. Jackson consi.lered the war nt an onn. 

■I "".lark's being garrisoned bv an American force ; the Indian towns at JMickasii- 

i y'mid Suwanev destroyed ; the two Indian chiefs who bad been the prime mmers 

•ilui leaders of l"bc savages, one of .vhom bad commanded the party that murdered 

• ,'icnlenant fc^cott and bis compaiiimis, and the two prmciiial loreign instigators, 

\rLiubnot and Ambrister, having been taken and executed, the American cominan- 

, ,.er ordered the Gcoi-iu militia, who ha.l joined him. to be discharged, and was a- 

■'•Irout himself to return lo Tenne>.see. lint be soon learned that the Indians and ne- 

. roes were collecting in bands west of li.e Api-alacbicola ; Nvb.cb would rcnde u 

neces^ary for him f. send a detachment to scour ihe country in that, .inarter. Wb e 

p.eparin'. for this ol,|eci, be wan informed that tbe Indians were "'l';''l'«'Vt;,n J; {. 

ihe Governor of I'ensacola ; that they were collecting .n arge numbers, ^>< 'J l"- p 

,., i'ensacola on tbe l.-nh of Ai.ril, many of whom were known lo be >'»f' "^^ " 

bnd iuslescaped from tbe pursuit of our troops; that the enemy was lurmsbMl wilt. 

..nomuition ind .supplies, and receive.! intelUgenc.M,f tbe n.oven.entsot our 1^0^^^^^^^^^ 

iiom t'lat p'acc ; that a number of them bad sallied out and murdered lb ol ou. 



ii 

ll;o 



..in>- .,.,n-. i!if M.ibninn, riml were inin-ieiii;;t.'Iy rc>-rlvcil l>y ii; 

"^''''?; ';.!<; ea-'sth. 1..V, that 11,. V nn;:!u .UuW- pursuit. _ 

or, ;uid by Inui ti ail^l)o. tea .u i . . > . - ' ..- „,„,„estion!ihle nutlmriiy, 1.;^ 

These farts luMU- as.MMtatue.l ''y ,^' ';•;;;;'.; ;:^.\,t tl>n Load c,f a .IctM.-l- 

t^HMitoi about UUUitii,ii,ioi lUB po 1 , - , , O.-liccHfi v ta-^c^, witli ll.o 

0,> ti.e Ibth of May, he rrcscl '^e Anp. .a uc , at . ^ n . , ^^^^^^^ 

vi,nv of scouring tl>e cout.try west •;''','',;;:; "j^ Fm.;.,,^ n- 

,nonth he roceived . ---''--^^ e n c^ ^ u u! -fire IVou^t, and d.Mn- 
irain.t Ins et.triiu'-e into that 1''°''"; ^' V \. ,;;' hordd not obey Tliis cniiuuunica^ 
,in, that he wonld '-I'^' ^'';:^« .'y^:'. ;:'^;J ,ifi ; * , C vorno , uho lu.,1 boon w.;! 
'in",topthe.vvithothcMn uNu.ons 1^^^^ 

advised ot tlie obje«-t oi '•^'"- •''•^■f;"' ^ "■ , '' ,^ , ' „,. ,,on".e=-^i(;n of tliat idacti lli- 
pursued, lie n>arH>ed dire.tly to ^'-;f;-;;'j;J^^'^!;^V;i £;.,,,,, , ,s\U posr, 
loilowins day, the Uovcrnnr '"^ ; ;;•« ^^l , ^^ ^.^^ ^;'"^^: #,,*,. I5y Uu-^o event., the 
after a feeble resistance, u-as also ^;;/'^"- '.7' " ' . • !^„ po<-il;'c tnoans of cof.- 
Indians and lugitive '-o-'----^^ ';;; ^,S^ ^ i ^H.^;;;;;;, justice. They 
,;„„in, ^l'-^;'^I'7''r^-" :; ,f ^;^^' ^, ;^, a iornndable enen.y ; but as the.e 
v.^cre so scattere.l ar. 1 re'^l-" ^ -^^ ' , ,^,,^,, ,^ i,e concealed iu the suanM':-, 
were slill ninny small marauding p. utie^ ?up,)o c i lo ,^,,,p,:^..in frontier set- 

v.-ho ml^IU make sudden and n.m-derous 'nroad. ...on '^^ ;^ ^^J ' ^;^.4\. „.„,, ;„,. 
tiers, Gen. Jackson called into service ^^o c.m.p n . d ^. ; ;; ;^ ^ ;^^. , ,. ^Hu, 
sirn.tions to seour the courUry between teWullc ;-; ' :).."^^ ^^ j • ^^,^.,., ,„,,,,. 

-^^•^'i^>- -=:5"t; !ir(^:=:-uiui. ul;n;s;n;r.;u;ie.. tL,- did not.n- 



—-tr^^fiL-.-^^ 

Spanish .orti^sse. ami the ex. 

:;;o;Sa^oiution!;;:app;::vm^the huter of :hoso --;-i-y;^^--r;:; 

another resolution, condemning the lormer ot '^'^\^}^':^ ''^^X^^u:^^ 

to a most earnest and elaborate debate, ulnch was V^^'^'^'^^^Vlr;'!^;^^^u. 

and in which Jackson and the Executive ;:P--en u r '" -, -;^;;-;-;,, 




12 

the eoncurrence of tiic ablest members of tlie Committee, and it was brosi^ht fur 
ward at too late a period of the session of Congress to be discussed. • Noc!,in<r more 
^vas supposed to be meant by its author than to cast an indictment before th'e pub- 
lic It was repelled tnumphantly, in a defence which was publislied in the Na ion- 
al Intelligencer on the 5th of March, and which has been ascribed to Gen. Jackson 
He fet deeply the imputations which he knew to be not only false, but utterly irre- 
concilable with his nature The issue of all the reports and harangues was such as 
might give additional comfort to his domestic hours on bis return to his farm where 
he enjoyed again a period of refiose. ' 

When the treaty with Spain ceding the Floridas was finally ratified, Congress pas- 
sed a law e.npowenng the President to vest in such person or persons as he m -M.t 
select, all the military, civil, and judicial anthoriry exercised by the officers o fd e 
Spanish government. The President, under this law, appointed General Jackson 
to actm the first place as commissioner for receiving the Provinces, and then to as- 
si.me the government of them. It was intended and e.vpressed that the American 
Governor should e.voniso all the functions belonging to the Spanish Gove, nors,Cap- 
tain-Generals and Intend.nts, unt.i Congress should provide a system of ad.mnis- 
tration as in the instances of the other territories . n oi uumiiiis 

The selection of Jackson was not a mere mark of honor or testimonial of public 
gratitude. His imi nate acquaintance with the country and the energy of 1 is na- 
ture recommended him specially for tLe post of Governor. 

rJrn? 'T'\ ^'th Spam prcscrihed tiiat all documents relating to property or sove- 
reignty should beleltin i.os.ession of the American authorities. On the22d of Au- 
gu t, a petition aas submitted to the Governor, in his capacity of the lii<^hest jud - 
cial magistrate Irom the American a,cade, or keeper of ird.ives, that certain- 
he documents or records, rerpmed by individuals to enable then to prosecute tl le r 

nfZ. ''Tr7> """ ""'^"'"''> '^-^^i-'i i" the hands of a persJn of the natne 
of ^ou.a. Ihe Governor issued his commission to three offirers, to wait on Sou^u 
and request him to exhibit and deliver up all such .locuments in his polissro ..- 
Sousa exhibited two open boxes of papers which he affirmed had been entrusted to 

^hpnpvfm?n ?"'''"" r^ ' f '"'" '^'""''^'^ Governor, Colonel Callava. The boxes 
when examined were found to contain the documents wanted and other records of 

hn JZ 5T^'^^ ^ T" '"''*^.'^'"«'-^- All these weredcmande.l bv the otr,cers, 
but refused by Sousa, who prom.sed, however, to consult Colonel Callava. These 
facts bemg reported to Genera Jackson, he issued a summons to Sousa to appear 
before h.m, in case he persiste.l in retaining the papers. Ti,o answer given was, 

Two ir hr'ft' ^^""'\ ""l- 'r ^^'"""' ^''^^■■''^' «"•» ^^-^'^ i" '"« '••otter's house.-- 
1 wo of the official family of the American Governor were then .lirected bv him to 

refused, to require both Callava and his steward who had receiled them from Sousa, 
n^nf^Tn r r G.°^«-"«'-- The Spaniard insisted at first upon retaining the 

papers and after promising to surrender them, when a list was furnished, and lail- 

?or n Jn? H I '". ^'T^ '" ''■'" ''^"' °^' "'^ Governor. When there he was in- 
formed of the nature and propriety of the demand made upon him, and apprized 

,^ " H r dliir r'"' '? 7'^' ?'' '"'■^''' '^''" ^° imprisonment. He would'do noth- 
Lrd nn I in ?«n ^ ' " ' " '"^""'"^" of Jacksou being exhausted, he, his stew- 

ard and Sou.sa uere committed to prison, until the papers should be ohta iicd. 

Ihe nex morning the box in which the papers ha.I been seen was seized an,! o- 
pened by the office.s specially commissioned! It had been carefullv scale by Cal- 
lava, and was found to contain what was sougbt. Callava and his conmaiiio. s 

iTsU who'S" '""' J'"i '^,'" '''?''' th..: recovered related to U.o of , 

person who dietl at I ensacola, about the year 1807, having made his will and be- 
queathed his property to several orphan females, who had ne^fer receive 'any por- 
tion of It, owing to the d.shoues.y of the individuals who were at the same timeits 
we^eXov?"' '^"^,\"'\ ^'''"■'.7 '^i'"««'»-"'a'Ie decrees in favor of the heirs.whi b 
were discovered in the box, and had been suppressed umler corrupt infiuen ce It 
was bis object to r,arry off all the evidence la'/essary for redress. ' ell" wards 

£n .; '!! r '^'""■"■"" n''"' "" «^P"«"io" -^- ti.e treatment which he ad ex- 
perienced, and was convirte.lin due time of various misrepresentations bv the 

bvThP Cn'y '"' n »'r ••««P--''''''« «-nIen.en who were employ I "the afl^air 

V^rterZr\ "' ^'""r*' *"'■ '''"•■^«''" ''^« i'^munities of an a. ibassa do'-. haT- 

-ng acted as the deputy ot the Captain-General of Cuba in surrendering the Fieri- 



13 

das. But as Iiis quality of commissioner Iiad cease. I when the surrender wns 
completed, Jackson could vit.w liim only in the light of a private individual char- 
ged witli violating both pid)lic and private iights,and determined to set the supreme 
judiciary at dehance. To have allowed the wrong which was designed to he com- 
mitted would have been utterly incon.'^istent with what was due to tlic dignity and 
power of the United States, ami the claims of oppressed individuals whose se.x Lnd 
situation parruMilarly entitled them to protection and svmpaihy. The just ian^uacre 
of Jackson, narratiiig and justifying his proceedings to lije President was—" When 
men ot iiigh standing attemj.t to trample upon the riiihts of the weak, tliey are the 
fittest objects lor example or punishmenr. In general the great can protect them- 
selves : but the poor and huml)le refjuire the arm and shield of the law." Among 
the civil ollicers sent to Florida, by the Fresirleni, was n former Senator of the Uni- 
ted States, Elcgius Fromentin, who went in liic rajiacitv of a Judge, witii ajuri=- 
(iu'tion limited to cases that might arise under the Revenue Laws, and the acts of 
Congress prohibiting the introtinction of slaves. This gentleman'conscnted rash- 
ly, at the instipiation of some of the friends of Callava, to issue the writ of habeas 
corpus, xo extricate the Sjianiard from confinement. The numeral Judiciary Act 
tor the I nited States, under which alone tiie Jn.lge could claim the ri^iit of thus in- 
terferiiig. had not been extended to the Floridas. Jackson displayed his character- 
jstic decisK.n and intelligence in this case— he cited tiie Judge to appear before him 
and answer the charge of a contempt of the superior court and a serious misde- 
rncanor. The [irisoner was released, the papers having been obtained, before Mr. 
Iromentm was able to present himself i)ursnani to the summons. The General 
was then content with detiningto him the limits of his comr.eiency as Jm^e, and 
u;t7ring a severe rebuke for bis precipitation. 

^ '^'liif^, even, was not the end of t!ie Callava case, as it has been called. Several 
Spanish oflicers, who had remained with the ex-ffovernor in the province, ventiir- 
e.i to publish 111 a I'ensacola paper, an article, with their signatures, in which they 
accused the General oi violence and tyranny. It was stii.uiated, in the treaty of 
cession, that all the Spanish ollicers should be wiih.lruwn from the territories ce- 
ded, withm SIX months after the ratilication of the treaty. More tlian this term had 
elapsed, .(ackson issued ins proclamniion wltiiout deiav, commnndini: them, as 
rrespassen; and disturbers of the public j.eace, to depart'in the course of a week 
ihey had not the fi.lly to remaiti. About the same period, important documents and 
archives, which the Spann.rds had no right to retain, were anernpted to be with- 
be.d by the ex-governor ot Last Florida. Jackson, on hearing this attempt, trans- 
mitte.i by mad his orders to take forcible possession of them ; which Was done ac- 
conlingiy i he ex-governor protested-but upon innifllcient grounds, and with 
jiersonal disgrace. a > ' "ui. 

These occurrences produced much discitssion in the newspapers, and vehcmcp- 
remonstrances Inmi the Ministers rienipotentiarv of Spain in this country. Jack-' 
sons mtcriuetation ol his own powers, and those of Judge Fi.omentin, and his 
measures to prevent the abduction of the papers, ^vcre ratilied and fully vindica- 
ted oy the American goyernment. Tlie undue interest whicii the Spanish ollicei- 
c.mtrived to raise u, their iavor, with the assistance of the Gencral'j persona enc-' 
uies soon subside, alter the facts aiui respective right, became betl^r know ,1 
On the .t I of October, Jackson deh-gated his powers to two .entlcmen, the sec e- 
ta.esol Ins government and set out on his return to Nashville. In 1, s di.rnifieHl 

llZJo ■;;' ':'^' •.■?"7";"^'' "'.e temporary organization of the tw , proviuccs.l 

n .aviti! t I no^l b^' 1"" "' ^'"""^ "istance,;' he added, •' i feel the utmost conlidence 

m saj It g, t.iat lothmg has occurred, nolwithstandiuij the numerous cases in which 

I have been calle.i upon to interpose my authority, either in a ludicia! or cxecu v • 

capacity, to occasion any thing like distrust or discontent." ^.vecutn*, 

rile injury which his health had sufll-red from the personal hardships, inevitable 

" ! :,r ' ''"'^^"'' r?"'^" "•" .'" '"■"^■■"^^ '^'^ residence in Florida. Bef ,re h » - 
partu e he received Irom the citizens, spontaneous ,mi,i,c manifestations of e teem 

der of tie 1 ■■ 1 ?" "" ^"' "*; /!''-^'' ^^-^' ^''^^ ^-— •• -i- Tennessee, by m- 
ne. ot the legislature, presente.I hm. with a ..word as testimonial " of the hi4 
respect^' entertained by the state for his public services. And on the 20t of Au 
gas,of thesa.ne year, the menibers of 'the General Assembly of Ten ne see re- 
commended him to the L n on for the office of President-u reco.nmenda"ion w hich 
has been repeated by the Legislature of Alabama, and various assembloles cf pri 



11 

vatc citizens in other parts of the country. In the autumn of Is'A he v.-as electr.l 
to the Senate of the United States, in which body he has taken his seat . Social 
honors are heaped upon him at Washington, and fresh evidence is daily transmu- 
ted thither, of the high estimation in which he is lield at a distance. }3etore Ins o- 
lection to the Senate, he was appointed by the Tresident, w.lli the concurrence ot t lo 
Senate, Minister Plenipotentiary to the government of Me.xico : hut he dec moM tlio 
station from a repugnance to the monarchical system which then prevai.eil m .Mex- 
ico, and to the means by which the supreme power had been usurped. 

In person. General Jackson is tail, and remarkably erect and thin. iiis neignt 
bears no proportion to his hei-ht, and his frame, in general, does not appear hiie.l 
for trials such as it has borne." His features arc large ; his eyes dark blue, with a 
keen strong glance ; his eve brows arched and prominent— his complexion is that 
of the war-worn soldier. ' His demeanor is easy and gentle : in every station he lias 
been foumi open and accessible to all. The irritability of his temper, whicii is 
not denied by his friends, pro.luces contrast in iiis manner and countenance, lead- 
ing to very different conceptions and representations as to both : but tnat natural 
in'tirinity has decreased, and those who have lived and acted with him, bear uiitiin- 
tnous testimony to the general mildness of his carriage and the kindness ot his 
disposition. It is certain that he has inspired his soldiers, his mintary household, 
his domestic circle, and his neighbors, with the most ailectionate sentiment?. 1 he 
impetuosity of his nature, his impatience of wrong and encroachments, ns con- 
tempt for meanness, and his tenaciousness of just authority, have involved hiin m 
bitter altercations and sanguniarv rpiarrels : yet he cannot he accused of wanton en 
malicious violence— the sallies which may be deeme(l intemperate can bo traced tn 
slron" provocation, operating in most instances, upon his initriotic zer.l and the -.e- 
ry generosity and loftiness of his sj-irit. He sacrificed the enemies nl his country, 
where he deemed that signal examples of rigor were necessary lor the pu., "• ^-i- 



fare and the lasting suppression of murder and rapine— he was never lonmi unm- 
in- in clemencv and humanity towards those whom essential justice and param.mi.l 
(huy allowed hjm to spare and relieve. Thus, after the battle ot the Horse Shor., 
in the Creek war, every Indian warrior was spared who surrendered inmsell— sc%e- 
ral of his men lost their lives in endeavouring, by liis ordcrs.to save sonn; obs-tmaio 
individuals who refused to surrender ; although his own troops were suffering w.tn 
huii'^er, he forbade the corn of the Indians to he taken fiom them, and caused Iho 
womided among the latter to be dressed and nursed as his own men. At the bat- 
tle of Tohopeka, an infant was found alive on the breast of its hfeless Indian molli- 
er • Jackson directed it to be brought to him, and not being aide to jirevai iipnii 
one of the Indian women to undertake the care of it, adopted it into his family, and 
lias ever since proved a kind protector to tlie orphan. ^ 

In the various critical situations in which he was phiccd by cmcrgciuies and ton 
unlimited discretion cast iqion liiin, he appears to have been governed by general 
and solid principles which he knew how to apply satisfactorily m explaining his 
measures. The very salutary encriry and decision with which he pursued tlic 
course, that he ha.l deliberately concluded to be right and necessary, siui;cctcd him 
to the belief or charge of having acted merely from vehement, overhearing, c.r ar- 
bitrary disposition. If his feelings were strongly roused ami displayed against tlie 
timid or traitorous portion cd" the inhabitants of New-Orleans, who wouhl have 
"iven the enemy an easy ami fatal triumi)h— against llie Spanish authorities m I io- 
rida, who served the British and supplied the SeminoI(>s— against Arbnilinot ami 
Auibrister, the unweared instigators and insidious confederates ol t.ie ^avagesj 
thirstin- for American blood— against the imposter prophets, wlio ha.l directed the 
butchery of white women and children, and whose occupation it was to incito .lepre- 
(latioii and murder— against a Spanish Governor who would have violatei a treaty 
and despoiled orphan" females of their inheritance— wo may say that both the 
warmth of those feelings, and the rigor wilfi which they were mamlestcd, wnl lie 
not only excused, but even admired by generous minds. 

The copious despatches which (ieiieral Jackson had occasion to write to tlio 
government, detailing his campaign and oflicial proceedings ; his numerous ad- 
dreascs to his troops, and the statements and arguimmts which the charges prefer- 
red u"ainst his oflicial ctmdurt, comiiellod him to publish lor his jiistilicatmn, would 
altogether, form a sizeable vohinin. They are marked by great llnency and eiicr- 
"y of expression ; cogent reasoning ; apt reference to gemu-al principles, and the 
utmosi earnestnesd and apparent ruclitndo of intention. He writes iicrvou.sly ?ui<J 
perspicuously ; he speaks \vitl> facility and force Grace and rd;;icn:cut he has 



15 

«ot studied, eitiier in composition or delivery. Those qualities are not to l)« ex- 
jiectcd in one whose life has been cliiefly passed in sucii scenes as we have skctch- 
fcd. He is the artificial in nothing. IHs reading cannot be supposed to be exten- 
sive, nor his a]. plication to books very frequent. In regard to husi7iess he lias al- 
ways been found indelatigable and sagacious. He possesses a competent estate, 
and lives hospitably in the manner of a substantial farmer. He is without chil- 
dren. He is temperate in his diet, and in all respects enjoys a good private reputa- 
tion. His [)ublic character is to be known from the history of his public career, 
which we liave regularly, though very imperfectly traced. 



TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW-YORK. 

Anihew Jackson has done as much as any tnan now living, to jjrotect the inte- 
rests and advance the glory of the American peojtie. In consideration of his great 
services and of his tried patriotism and integrity, the people have brought him for- 
ward, as a-candidate for the highest office in their gift. What has been the con- 
we(}uence ? From tlie moment his name became associated with the Presidency, 
as a coi:)[)elit()r of I\Ir. Adams, General Jackson has been assailed by the miniouK 
of jfower, w itli a wantonness of mulignity, almost unparalleled in the annals of 
our country. 

His purest and most eminent services have been tortured into crimes. Acts of 
devoted jtatriotism and iieroic virtue, have been denounced as illegal and ojjpressive. 
He is jiroscribed for having' pursued the only measures which could have saved 
an inqjortaMt portion of the Union ; and the fact, that thirteen years ago. he achiev- 
e<l one of the greatest victories recorded by history, is gravely urged, as a reason 
why he should never be permitted to enjoy the highest proof of the confidence of his 
country ! 

Tiie injustice with wliich he has been assailed, for his spirited ant! successful 
proceedings in the deferu-e of New-Orleans, and in the Seminole war, is well known. 
From the asjiersions of Mr. Clay and the complaints of Spain, he was iriunq>hant- 
ly vindicated by his present conijietitor, Mr. Adams. The administration of Mr. 
Monroe sanctioned atid adopted his acts, and tiie voice of the American people has 
ratified that sanction. 

Former slanders having proved abortive, a new device lias recently been resort- 
ed 10. 

The Six Midiiieers, whose conviction and sentence, by an upright court martial, 
were approved of by General Jackson, have been dug up from their ignominious 
graves — their crimes have been varnished over— the culprit lias been turned into a 
martyr — and an act of indis[)ensable justice, has been so distorted and falsified, as 
to wear the semblance of tyranny and injustice. 

As this is their "forlorn hope," the supporters of the j)resent tottering dynasty 
have s})ared no pains to render it cflisctive. Sevei-al panq)hlets have been ]tul)lish- 
ed, giving false or garbled statements of this affair ; and handbills decorated with 
cq^ms,and filled with forged letters and rubricated statements. arc circuhited through- 
out the country. 

Even members of Congress, regardless of t!ie dignity of their stations, are devo- 
ting liieir time to the transmission of these libellous productions. The mails groan 
under their weight ; and from every quarter of liie state, wo receive complaints, 
iliat they are obtruded and hawked about, to })oison the founiainsof knowledge, to 
corrniit the sources of public fee]ing,and to cxcito suspicion and distrust, in the minds 
of those who are unacquainted with the facts. 

One of these [)ublications hears the following imposing title. 

^'Official Record, from the IVuT Department, of the Proceedings oj the Court Martial ichich 
tried, and the orders of Gen. Jackson, for shouting six militiameti ; together with official 
letters from the War Department. {X)rdcred to he prinled bij Congress.) showing that 
these .Hmerican Citizens were Jnhumaahj and Illegally Mansacred. Washington., print' 
ed at the office of Jonathan Elliot, Feii7isijlvania .iconuc' lbi28." 
This is a bold attempt at imposition. The title jjage is calculated and designed 
lo convey the impression, that the pamphlet is an official documkm', printed by 
order of Congress ; whilst it is in iact, an anonymous production, got up by some 
hireling of the administration, at Wasiiinglon, lor the |)urpose of deceiving the 
jmblic, and destroying the reputation of a rival candidate. It comprises a part 
OiNLT of the official documents relating to the case of the Six Mutineers. It a- 
f'ounds with falsehoods, appended iu the form of notes to the documents. It is pre- 
faced and concluded by a scries of comments, in which, by the aid of false state- 



Hients, aiui fuLricated j)apei>', General Jackson is clefiouiiced as a tyuam' asd a 

MURDERER ! 

We liiive said t!iat tliis pamplilet had been got up, l»y some anonymous liireling oC 
t!ie adiDinistratioiJ. This is true, liut it is not tlie uiiole tniili. Jiefuro. ihe "Ollicia! 
jetters from the war department" were laid liet'ore Congress, an attciii])t Avas made 
with the sanction of that department, to deceive the representatives of the people 
and tlie people thetiiselves, by arranging these letters in an nnnatnral and deceptive 
.srder. The fraud was discovered and pointed ont hy the Militaiy Committee o1" the 
House of Representatives, in their rL-])ort made in tlie month of Feb, last. In the 
same report, the Coininittee stated the sulistance of a most im|.>ortant order, fromGov. 
Blount to Gen. Jackson, wliicli was oiriitted in the report from the war di-jiartmcni, 
and which, of itself, fiiridshed a perj'tct vindi<:aiion of Gen. Jar.kson. A resohnioii 
'.vas thereupon passed by the House of P.eprcsentatives, tiiat the documenKs, as cor- 
rectly arranged by tl'e Committee, and their report, should be j)nl>lislied together. 
Finding that the official record, as puhiished by Congress, w ould not ruiswer the 
charitalile purpose of destroying the re()Ulation of Gen. Jackson, UlqI record has 
been suflered lo sleep as u.-.eless rubbish, and the jiamphict ol' which we speak, conies 
forth in its stead, franked by members (jf Congress, and issued from the scat of gov-, 
erninenr. The inference is irresistible. All this has been done uith the sanction of 
the administration. To sustain themselves in |)ower, they are willing — recreants as 
they ;ire to every generous feeling — that an honest man — a nii'.n unsiirfiassed in jiat - 
vioiu: devotion to ihe interests of his country, should first be robbed of his hard- 
cnrned lionois, ;ind then be immolated on the altar of calumny I 

Not content with the loads (d'this pamphlet received from \Vasl)inglon,tbe friends 
of the coalition, in this state, have issued a new edition with the follov.'ing imjirint : 

'MLBANY: 16\fe." 
We feci proud, as citizens of New-York, that no one of our inhabitants could be 
found, who was willing to avow himself as the jirinter of this infamous j)ublication. 
Woidd to heaven we couhl say, tliat there were none base enough to disseminate the 
libel ! Unfortunately ibr the character of our state, the disgraceful fact nuist be ad- 
mitred, that arrangeuients have been made to give it an extensive circulation. 

We asU the attention of the people of New-York — a people intelligent, discriini- 
n,:tiii'-- and just — to the fji'^ts connected wilii this transaction. V/hen they shall 
itave Taken a view of the whole gnumd, they will entertain but one sentiment in re- 
gard toil. They will see and feel, that in appioving the sentence of tlie court niar- 
nul, Gen. Jai'kson discharged a sacred and imjierious duty. Then ivill find in thi.s 
ren/ act, new evidenfc of hisfdtl'd}} to his counlri/t and of his ivisdom and firmness in 
the hour of trial. 

When we consider the Iiardslii|is endured, and the skill, courage and patriotisin 
-lispiayed, by Andrew Jackson, in the course of bis iiiilitary services — to say nolhine 
r>f the' value <d" those services, or of the glory vvhicii the nation has derived fiom 
tiiom — we could hardly have believed, that an American could be found — no maltcr 
iiow strong the polilical inducement— who would have attempted to distort the case 
of the Six" Muiinecrs into grouml of accusation. But from whatever source the 
ralschoods on this subject may have proceeded, (d'one thing we are certain— //at/ can- 
not injure his well earned repidation. The mists of calumny may obscure for a sea- 
son, but in a country like ours, that season must be brief. The jieople are too intel- 
ligent lo be deceived, and too honest to do injustice. 

In the confidence isisj'ired by this heart cheering truth, we make our appeal to 
thu honest nun of all parties- 



I'F.TKR \Vi;.\f)ELb, 
AVll.l.lA?.! OOL'i.;;. 

TKiiiM) hl::*; I'D REV, 

CAii;.\F.i.iUs A. U Al.DMOX, 
JOHN S. VAN UK.NtSLl-AKK, 

CllKISriAN U.SMI'.Arv, 
TF.{;MS SLl.NGKPa-AAl), 

Ge/icral Republican Cvrri<:pondh!g CorrTultce of the Ci.'y oj 
Al'.mny. M..y 15, 1323. 



nF..\RY v..\\dt:nbl'Rgii, 

JA.MKS CA.Ml'lJKLl,, Jr. 

JAViKrf COIAIN, 

lilll.ll' I'ULM.I':?, 

.IA::^. .MAHLR. 

JOII.X .N. Ul ACKF.NRISII 

RICHARD DCt^r.NRUKV, 

FRAACIS I. IJRADT, 



Ihany- 



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